Oliver Bearman has revealed a remarkable surge in confidence following Haas’ recent car improvements introduced at Silverstone, marking a turning point in his 2025 Formula 1 season. The young British driver credits the upgrade for a dramatic transformation in his performance and mental outlook during the midseason stretch.
Bearman’s start to the year was challenging, enduring a difficult crash in FP1 at Melbourne which left him qualifying last, and suffering through a seven-race span without scoring points. Despite resilient showings across China, Japan, and Bahrain, the points drought raised doubts about his season’s direction until Haas implemented critical changes in the car.
Impact of Haas’ Silverstone Upgrades on Bearman’s Results
At Silverstone, Haas introduced a redesigned floor and new sidepod inlets that substantially improved the car’s balance and pace. Bearman secured his best qualifying result of the year by placing eighth. However, a 10-place grid penalty for ignoring red flags during practice pushed him down to 18th on the starting grid, extending his run without championship points into the Belgian Grand Prix.
Nonetheless, this edge carried through to the Sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps, where he finished seventh and finally ended his points drought. The psychological boost Bearman gained from the upgrade was clear.
I haven’t found my confidence until we brought the Silverstone upgrade to the car,
he said, underscoring the dramatic change in his mindset.
Since then, I’ve had a really good feeling, and I’ve been able to replicate that feeling – and that’s crazy.
—Oliver Bearman, Driver
This newfound harmony with the car contrasts with earlier races where balance issues hindered his ability to push consistently.
Current Season Performance and Remaining Challenges
Despite the confidence upswing, Bearman has collected only eight points, placing him 19th in the Drivers’ Championship, the lowest tally among all points scorers so far this season. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about building momentum as Formula 1 approaches the summer break and the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix.
I hope we can replicate the feeling that I’ve had in the previous two races,
Bearman expressed, reflecting on the possibility of a stronger points haul. He also acknowledged areas needing improvement, stating,
In both qualifying and in the race, there’s been a few shortcomings from both sides: Silverstone I had a penalty, Spa we simply missed out on opportunities.
—Oliver Bearman, Driver
His candid assessment highlights the ongoing efforts to refine strategy and execution during race weekends.
Optimism for Haas’ Pace and the Season’s Second Half
Bearman is confident in the car’s speed and believes Haas can steadily elevate its competitiveness.
Clearly, the car has pace, so there is a lot of potential there. Step by step, we’re going to improve and get better,
he said, signaling a positive outlook for the races ahead.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, a circuit Bearman last competed on during his Formula 2 tenure with PREMA Racing, represents an opportunity to translate this growing confidence into tangible results. As the F1 calendar progresses, all eyes will be on him to see how he harnesses this momentum in the months to come.